Ladies longed to be the awkward Baby in Dirty Dancing. When Sam trailed a penny up the door in Ghost tears flowed down our cheeks, we believed.

In real life he rarely was gossip fodder. He loved his wife and was devoted to her.

He spoke with a Texan drawl softly and melted hearts.

He lived kindly. He worked hard. He fought bravely.

Cancer doesn't care who it picks to destroy. A dancer's body is as easy as anyone else. It's those final months that show a person's worth.

Swayze took on the beast and refused to give up. He knew there was a ticking time clock within his cells. He choose to fight it while he lived his life.

Two years ago Swayze admitted that cancer had decided to attack. Pancreatic cancer. Of all the cancers you can get pancreatic cancer is one of the cruelest. There is no real escape as of yet from it. It kills and it kills quickly. Swayze bested it for two years.

Today the battle has ended. RIP Patrick Swayze, you put on a good fight.

This opinion article was written by an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not necessarily intended to reflect those of DigitalJournal.com